tg.stone of tears- 第1节

　
　I　would　like　to　thank　my　editor；　James　Frenkel。　for　having　the　integrity　to　settle　for　no　less　than　my　best　effort；　my　British　editor；　Caroline　Oakley；　for　her　continuing　support　and　encouragement；　my　friends　Bonnie　Moretto　and　Donald　Schassberger　MD；　for　their　expert　advice；　and　Keith　Parkinson　for　the　outstanding　cover　art。CHAPTER　1
　
　Rachel　clutched　her　doll　tighter　to　her　chest　and　stared　at　the　dark　thing　watching　her　from　the　bushes。　At　least　she　thought　it　was　watching　her。　It　was　hard　to　tell　because　the　eyes　were　as　dark　as　the　rest　of　it；　except　when　the　light　caught　them　just　right；　then　they　gleamed　a　golden　color。
　
　She　had　seen　animals　in　the　woods　before；　rabbits　and　raccoons　and　squirrels　and　such；　but　this　was　bigger。　It　was　as　big　as　her；　maybe　bigger。　Bears　were　dark。　She　wondered　if　it　could　be　a　bear。
　
　But　this　wasn’t　exactly　the　woods；　since　it　was　indoors。　She　had　never　been　in　an　indoor　woods　before。　She　wondered　if　indoor　woods　had　animals　like　the　outdoor　woods　did。
　
　She　might　have　been　afraid　if　Chase　wasn’t　there　with　her。　She　knew　she　was　safe　with　him。　Chase　was　the　bravest　man　she　ever　saw。　Still；　she　was　a　little　afraid。　Chase　had　told　her　she　was　the　bravest　little　girl　he　knew。　She　didn’t　want　him　to　think　she　was　afraid　of　some　big　rabbit。
　
　Maybe　that’s　all　it　was；　some　big　rabbit；　sitting　on　a　rock　or　something。　But　rabbits　had　long　ears。　Maybe　it　really　was　a　bear。　She　put　her　doll’s　foot　in　her　mouth。
　
　She　turned　and　looked　down　the　path；　across　the　pretty　flowers　and　short　walls　covered　with　vines；　and　across　the　grass　to　where　Chase　was　talking　to　Zedd；　the　wizard。　They　were　standing　by　a　stone　table；　looking　at　the　boxes；　and　talking　about　what　to　do　with　them。　Rachel　was　glad　that　that　mean　Darken　Rahl　didn’t　get　them　and　that　he　wasn’t　lever　going　to　be　able　to　hurt　anyone　again。　Rachel　turned　back　to　make　sure　the　dark　thing　wasn’t　ing　any　closer　to　her。　It　was　gone。　She　looked　around；　but　didn’t　see　it　anywhere。
　
　‘Sara；　where　do　you　think　it　could　have　gone？’　she　whispered。
　
　Her　doll　didn’t　have　an　answer。　Rachel　bit　down　on　Sara’s　foot　and　started　walking　toward　Chase。　Her　feet　wanted　to　run；　but　she　didn’t　want　Chase　to　think　she　wasn’t　brave。　He　had　said　she　was　brave；　and　that　made　her　feel　good。　She　looked　over　her　shoulder　as　she　walked；　checking；　but　she　didn’t　see　the　dark　thing　anywhere。　Maybe　it　lived　in　a　hole；　and　it　had　gone　there。　Her　feet　still　wanted　to　run；　but　she　didn’t　let　them。
　
　When　Rachel　got　to　Chase；　she　pushed　up　against　him　and　hugged　his　leg。　He　and　Zedd　were　talking；　and　she　knew　it　was　impolite　to　interrupt；　so　she　sucked　on　Sara’s　foot　while　she　waited。
　
　‘So　what　could　happen　if　you　just　shut　the　lid？’　Chase　was　asking　the　wizard。
　
　‘Anything！’　Zedd　stuck　his　skinny　arms　up　in　the　air。　His　wavy　white　hair　was　smoothed　down　but　it　still　stuck　out　in　places。　‘How　should　I　know？　Just　because　I　know　what　the　boxes　of　Orden　are　doesn’t　mean　I　know　what　to　do　with　them　now　that　Darken　Rahl　has　opened　one。　The　Magic　of　Orden　killed　him　for　opening　it。　It　could　have　destroyed　the　world。　It　could　kill　me　for　closing　it。　Or　worse。’
　
　Chase　sighed。　‘Well；　we　can’t　just　leave　them　sitting　around；　can　we？　Don’t　we　have　to　do　something？’
　
　The　wizard　frowned　and　looked　at　the　boxes　while　he　was　thinking。　After　more　than　a　minute　of　quiet；　Rachel　tugged　on　Chase’s　sleeve。　He　looked　down　at　her。
　
　‘Chase。。。’
　
　‘‘Chase’？　I　told　you　the　rules。’　He　put　his　hands　on　his　hips　and　twisted　his　face　up；　trying　to　make　it　look　mean；　until　she　giggled　and　hugged　his　leg　tighter。　‘You’ve　only　been　my　daughter　for　a　few　weeks；　and　already　you’re　breaking　the　rules。　I　told　you　before；　you　are　to　call　me　‘Father。’　None　of　my　children　are　allowed　to　call　me　Chase。　Understand？’
　
　Rachel　grinned　and　nodded。　‘Yes；　Ch　。。。　Father。’
　
　He　rolled　his　eyes　and　shook　his　head。　Then　he　mussed　her　hair。　‘What　is　it？’
　
　There’s　some　big　animal　in　the　trees。　I　think　it　might　be　a　bear；　or　worse。　I　think　you　might　need　to　take　out　your　sword　and　go　have　a　look。’
　
　He　laughed。　A　bear！　In　here？’　He　laughed　again。　‘This　is　an　indoor　garden；　Rachel。　There　aren’t　any　bears　in　an　indoor　garden。　Maybe　it　was　a　shadow。　The　light　does　odd　things　in　here。’
　
　She　shook　her　head。　‘I　don’t　think　so；　Ch　。。。　Father。　It　was　watching　me。’
　
　He　smiled　and　mussed　her　hair　again　and　put　his　big　hand　on　the　side　of　her　face　and　hugged　her　head　to　his　leg。　‘Then　you　just　stay　by　me　and　it　won’t　bother　you。’
　
　She　sucked　Sara’s　foot　and　nodded　as　he　held　her　head　to　his　leg。　She　didn’t　feel　so　afraid　now　that　his　hand　was　on　her；　and　so　looked　over　to　the　trees　again。
　
　The　dark　thing；　mostly　hidden　by　one　of　the　vine…covered　walls；　darted　closer。　Rachel　bit　down　harder　on　Sara’s　foot　and　let　out　a　little　whimper　as　she　looked　up　at　Chase。　He　was　pointing　at　the　boxes。
　
　‘And　just　what　is　that　thing；　that　stone；　or　jewel　or　whatever　it　is？　Did　it　e　out　of　the　box？’
　
　Zedd　nodded。　‘It　did。　But　I　don’t　want　to　say　what　I　think　it　is　until　I’m　sure。　At　least　not　out　loud。’
　
　‘Father；’　Rachel　whined；　‘it’s　ing　closer。’
　
　He　looked　down。　‘Good。　You　just　keep　your　eye　on　it　for　me。’　He　looked　back　to　the　wizard。　‘What　do　you　mean　you　don’t　want　to　say？　Do　you　think　it　has　something　to　do　with　what　you　said　about　the　veil　to　the　underworld　possibly　being　torn？’
　
　Zedd　frowned　while　he　rubbed　his　smooth　chin　with　his　skinny　fingers　and　looked　down　at　the　black　jewel　sitting　in　front　of　the　open　box。　‘That’s　what　I’m　afraid　of。’
　
　Rachel　looked　over　to　the　wall　to　watch　where　the　dark　thing　was。　She　gave　a　start　when　she　saw　the　hands　reach　over　the　edge　of　the　wall。　It　was　a　lot　closer。
　
　But　they　weren’t　hands。　They　were　claws。　Long　curved　claws。
　
　She　looked　up　at　Chase；　at　all　his　weapons；　just　to　be　sure　he　had　enough。　He　had　knives；　a　lot　of　knives；　around　his　waist；　a　sword　strapped　over　the　back　of　his　shoulder；　a　big　axe　hooked　to　his　belt；　a　few　other　things　that　looked　like　clubs；　with　sharp　spikes　sticking　out　of　them；　hanging　from　his　belt；　too；　and　a　crossbow　on　his　back。　She　hoped　it　was　enough。
　
　All　the　weapons　scared　other　men；　but　they　didn’t　seem　to　be　scaring　the　dark　thing　that　was　ing　closer。　And　the　wizard　didn’t　even　have　a　knife。　He　just　wore　that　plain；　tan　robe。　And　he　was　so　skinny。　Not　big　like　Chase。　But　wizards　had　magic。　Maybe　his　magic　could　scare　the　dark　thing　away。
　
　Magic！　Rachel　remembered　the　magic　fire　stick　Wizard　Giller　had　given　her。　She　reached　into　her　pocket　and　put　her　ringers　around　it。　…Maybe　Chase　would　need　her　help。　She　wouldn’t　let　that　thing　hurt　her　new　father。　She　would　be　brave。
　
　‘Is　it　dangerous？’
　
　Zedd　looked　up　at　Chase　from　under　his　eyebrows。　‘If　it’s　what　I　think　it　is；　and　it　were　to　fall　into　the　wrong　hands；　‘dangerous’　wouldn’t　even　begin　to　describe　it。’
　
　‘Then　maybe　we　should　drop　it　down　a　deep　hole；　or　destroy　it。’
　
　‘Can’t。　We　may　need　it。’
　
　‘What　if　we　hide　it？’
　
　That’s　what　I’m　thinking。　The　problem　is　where。　There　are　things　to　take　into　consideration。　I　need　to　take　Adie　to　Aydindril　and　study　the　prophecies　with　her　before　I　know　for　sure　what　to　do　with　the　stone；　and　what　to　do　about　the　boxes。’
　
　‘And　until　then？　Until　you　know　for　sure？’
　
　Rachel　looked　over　to　the　dark　thing。　It　was　closer；　as　close　as　the　wall　came　to　them。　With　its　claws　over　the　top　of　the　wall；　it　lifted　its　head　up　and　looked　right　into　her　eyes。
　
　The　thing　grinned　at　her；　showing　long；　sharp　teeth。　Her　breath　caught　in　her　throat。　Its　shoulders　shook。　It　was　laughing。　Rachel’s　eyes　were　as　big　as　they　would　go。　She　could　hear　her　heartbeats　making　a　whooshing　sound　in　her　ears。
　
　‘Father　。。。’　she　whined　in　a　small　voice。
　
　He　didn’t　look　down。　He　just　shushed　her。　The　thing　put　its　leg　over　the　wall　and　dropped　down　in　front；　still　looking　at　her；　still　laughing。　Its　shiny　eyes　looked　at　Chase　and　Zedd。　It　hissed　and　then　laughed　as　it　hunc